Artist-writers make up half of the top 10 on the MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart this week, with Morgan Wallen at No. 4, Luke Combs at No. 5, Michael Hardy (or HARDY) at No. 6, Thomas Rhett at No. 8 and David Lee Murphy at No. 9.

Craig Wiseman remains at No. 1 for the third consecutive week, while Shane McAnally stays at No. 2 and Jonathan Singleton at No. 3.

The weekly MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart, published every week, uses algorithms based upon song activity according to airplay, digital downloaded track sales and streams. This unique and exclusive addition to the MusicRow portfolio is the only songwriter chart of its kind.

Click here to view the full MusicRow Top Songwriter Chart.

NSAI Helps Launch “Nashville Needs A Song” Competition

The “Nashville Needs A Song” songwriting competition is asking Music City songwriters to submit compositions that help inspire and uplift Nashvillians as they navigate the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impacts. Nashville Needs A Song is a joint initiative of the Mayor’s Office, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp and Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI). NSAI will administer the contest, which is open to songs that include at least one songwriter who lives in Davidson County, with the submitting writer being a current member of NSAI. Submissions should be made at nashvillesongwriters.com until May 12. The first 100 submissions will be considered.

To encourage submissions and to help those who keep the music playing in Music City, the NCVC is offering prize money from its COVID-19 relief fund, which is part of its charitable foundation: $2,500 to the winning songwriter, along with $1,000 for second place and $500 for third.  The winning tune may be used by the city and NCVC as part of marketing initiatives. Writers and their publishers will retain all future rights to the song.

Chord Overstreet Achieves Heavy Metal Status With “Hold On”

RIAA’s Jackie Jones with Chord Overstreet.

Chord Overstreet has earned his first career RIAA Platinum certification for his debut single, “Hold On,” and was recently congratulated via Zoom call for the accolade by Jackie Jones, the RIAA’s Vice President, Artist and Industry Relations. Continuing to impact listeners, the ballad has racked up over 175 million streams on Spotify; over 44 million streams on Apple Music, and over 203 million lyric video views on YouTube, as well as being featured in the series finale of The CW’s The Vampire Diaries.

Autumn McEntire Inks With Plaid Flag Music

Pictured (L-R): Courtney Blake, Creative Director, Autumn McEntire, Writer, Kendall Warren, Sr. Creative Director, Stephanie Cox, Sr. VP of Creative – Kobalt

Autumn McEntire has signed with Plaid Flag Music. The Oklahoma native and longtime Nashville resident began her career as a songwriter when she signed her first publishing deal upon graduating from Belmont University. As an artist, she had two independent releases and performed at the Ryman Auditorium. She’s had cuts by Matt Stell’s “Better I Drink” (2019), Walker County’s “The Hamptons” (2019), and Reba McEntire’s “Stronger Than The Truth” (2019) and has also secured cuts with up-and-coming artists Meghan Patrick, Stephanie Quayle, Lacy Cavalier, Rachel Reinert and Mae Estes.

“She’s incredible,” said Kendall Warren, Sr. Creative Director of Plaid Flag Music. “We have always admired her work and now are so excited to be partnering with her. She’s an amazing writer but an even better person. She will add incredible value to our team and we can’t wait for the future.”

BMI, ASCAP, NSAI, RIAA, SAG-AFTRA, and many more organizations in the music and film industries sent a letter to members of Congress highlighting the ways implementation of the CARES Act has fallen short in aiding workers in the entertainment community. The letter also requests that these flaws be remedied in a new CARES Act COVID relief package.

In a joint statement the organizations stated: “While we appreciate the efforts of lawmakers to meet the challenges of this pandemic, we need to ensure that our community is getting the aid they need to survive. Musicians are struggling to access the basic financial resources available due to conflicting and burdensome requirements in relief programs. Simply, there is a hole in this safety net that Congress must fix in the next version of the CARES Act. We need help that only [Congress] can provide, in a way that recognizes the particulars of our industry. On behalf of the hundreds of thousands of us across the country, thank you for your understanding and your action.”

The letter lays out in stark terms the crisis that the live entertainment industry is facing due to the pandemic and points out the fact that the implementation of the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program has overlooked workers who have mixed income and report it on W-2 and 1099 forms.

“In almost all cases that we see in every state, a minimum amount of W-2 income disqualifies a self-employed individual for PUA and significantly lowers the amount of assistance they receive,” the letter states. “PUA must be updated to recognize these different income streams and allow individuals to show their mixed sources of revenue for a full accounting of their annual income.”

Among the organizations signing the letter are the Artist Rights Alliance (ARA), American Association of Independent Music (A2IM), American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI), the Future of Music Coalition, Global Music Rights (GMR), the Music Artists Coalition (MAC), the Music Business Association, National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA), Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), the Recording Academy, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the Screen Actors Guild-the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), the Society of European Stage Authors and Composers (SESAC), the Songwriters Guild of America, the Songwriters of North America (SONA), SoundExchange and many more.

Clay Myers. Photo: Donn Jones Photography

Clay Myers has launched a new boutique consulting agency, Nashville Music Consultants, which will serve music publishers, artists, songwriters, and production companies, through A&R work, recording/production services, imaging and brand development, social media, song plugging, catalog licensing and administration, talent booking, and project management.

“I’ve been fortunate to work with virtually every aspect of the industry from publishing and labels to management and touring,” Myers says. “And it has never been more important as staffs decrease, and expectations escalate to bring experience and perspective to the table. That’s what I’m ready to provide with NMC.”

Myers is already providing management, production services, and catalog representation to a variety of companies including Reviver Publishing, Starstruck Entertainment’s publishing division, Vandermont Music Publishing, Schedler Music (Austria), the Easton Corbin Music catalog, A Million Midnights Music, and more.

His recent television credits include talent producer for The Song, recorded live at TGL Farms and talent booker for The Southern Weekend show on the Circle Network. Myers is offering development services for several young artists in addition to mentoring songwriters with Songtown. Myers has also created the online songwriting/publishing forum #NashvillePitchTips, sharing his experience with aspiring writers.

Florida native Myers moved to Nashville in 1986 to work for Maypop Music, owned by country supergroup Alabama. Several years later, he was named general manager of a new music publishing division at Reba McEntire’s Starstruck Entertainment.

On the management side, Myers served as day-to-day manager for Billy Dean, Linda Davis, 4 Runner, and River Road. In 1997, Myers made the move to Creative Artists Agency (CAA), where he helped secure catalog representation deals with Sony/ATV and a CAA joint venture with Chrysalis Music. While at CAA, Myers developed and secured record deals for Little Big Town and Emerson Drive, and secured numerous cuts, including the award-winning single “Beautiful Mess” by Diamond Rio.

Later, as GM/VP of Roy Orbison Music/Still Working Music, Myers worked with hit makers Tommy Lee James, Terry McBride, Clay Mills, Billy Burnette, and Liz Rose. An advocate for artists as well as songwriters, Myers worked to help artists including Danielle Peck, Jedd Hughes, Kaci Brown, and Luna Halo land label deals.

In 2012, Myers began leading publishing company Big Tractor Music, and was instrumental in securing a buyer for the company’s catalog. During this time, he continued working the catalog as a consultant and joined the management team at Trey Turner Artist Management, representing Easton Corbin and Jackie Lee.

In 2015, Myers was contracted to establish and launch MV2, an independent music publishing and artist development company. It was in that position that Myers realized that there was an industry-wide need for experienced, independent consultants to help talented and driven songwriters and artists pursue their dreams.

“Being a part of creative growth and success has always been my passion,” he said. “Dreams are only wishes unless you make a plan and take massive action! That is how I can help. I am here to assist with a plan of action.”